The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-01-13
A LITTLE MHNrAKE.

When Benson Stevens went home from
his fathers Office that afternoon-Stevens
&5 Gosse were weli-known solicitors -he
saw Carrie Kinsler sitting in the parior
window. ~ .4 .v.,.. .'.'..
The window looked attractive from the
outside, with its double curtains, it's palm
on ;ancy stand and its glimpse of ablue
plush chair lack, against. which c. rrie
kinsler's light hair, and gray-eysd md
pink-cheeked face, looked especially VI BILL
There might possibly have been 20 me
generalization in Miss Kinsler's being in
the window, in the mostbeooming chair,
at precisely the hour 1t which Bena lon
Stevens might be expected .opsss, on bis
way home from the office. . t.f ,.-. =
But it was no more suspicious circum.
stance than the fact of Benson Stevens
passing that way at all, since his short est
route lay in quite another direction a
direction he was never known to take.
He returned her smiling nod with 9
good deal Of effusion, hesitatsf q moment
and then turred In at the gate with an
air Of not having pnrnosad II in the least
and ofintending only TO stay . minuAe, -
The young lady opened the halEdQ0l
before he could pull the bell. aa, i9aia3 4
"I didu't want you to ring, >" shs fx
plaiued sweetly, as he hung bis overcSat
on the rack, "becAnse mamma is rocking
Pet to sleep, up stairs, aud / was afraid it
might wake him up..' - = 4 -, -" ~
SHave you got Pet here ?" saidB sor
following her IN the parlqr. .aoz 1}.
"Yes. Aren't you awfully cold !? Come
up to the CRATE; and don't take that
chair" as he sat down on stiff little af
fair. Its horribly uncomfortable. Take
the big one-thats it. 3.". ,e1
"Yes, we've got Pet here for week, -
she pursued, when they were settled down
comfortably ',efore the fender sc Howard
and Lizzie went to see Liszie's people iE
Grafton, and they thonght it was toocold
for Pet to so, So they left hm With ns
isr' a., - ''"p .!,,rn r'''j y - - , -;
ness was infinitely beyond~hiAa oOmpre
hension but it mighthave been because
Pet-properly, little Charles Petham Kin
sler-w 5 the nephew pf, his pretty hos
| tess. and was not on account Of any ex
traordinary merits in Pet hier self. neg
"Oh, dear, yes % Carrie continued, ,softly
"he's too cumming afof :, anything ! PaPs
could hardly tear himself away from tht
house this morning, and mamma just de
votes herself to him" "'e4haFn' aAi 1'inD
She started to repienish the fire from
| the little brass scuttle, and Benson spEane
to aid. A small parcel fell from hi'
pocket. all r. l.''"i5''''. re '.5 .''H,
Something that took my fancy in {
window down town." he, said, picking il
up and untying it. ii.=t9 10 ,e,iau ii i.
Il was one of the modern designs II
ink stands small wheelbxtrowi with Z
barrel thereon, the two handles being fol
a pen rest and the barrel for ink, the
whole neatly carved in white woodAaa
"Dear me, how perfectly 'cuts!" Carrie
cried, turning It about admiringiy.
"Keep It," said the young man. some
| what timidly. sas:1.- r.. ..roi. rs
Carrie raised her eyes 30 his IN pleased
way, and they both flushed = little, ''o' -
He had never made her . present be
fore. He had sent her elaborate Christ
mas. New Yesrs,, Easter and birthday
cards, and this year he had 'vensured' x
send her q deeply seYtimental valentine
bristling With Affection; but thi, ssemed
different. II sesmed, 70 than both, now
it was done, to,have meant great deal.
8. ThsnK YOU ao fnqsh s phs iiqlsl 5ya9 B5ed
- Bspsop 6ked nj, shesa 81 ia! intent lAut
drew bis fohain, . little closer, obendiDgtp
| ward hef.osu Thste ii no. knowing wha
| might lisye hsppsiied II the door M8d ~
opened 81, that home U " ssdmit Skua I1st,